Council overturns zoning board denial, clearing way for homeowner’s shed at 6180 Winchester Drive

The Seven Hills City Council voted on June 30 to overturn a zoning board of appeals decision and allow homeowner Ashley Krauss to build a 240-square-foot accessory building at 6180 Winchester Drive.

Councilman Snitzky presented the variance request and read the ZBA minutes, saying the board had three members present and the vote failed because the ZBA required unanimity among the three members. The variance sought a 40-square-foot size variance to ordinance 919.03B (accessory building area standards) and a setback variance to ordinance 919-03H2 (accessory use setback standards) to permit the proposed shed to be 30 feet, 6 inches from the southern side yard and 24 feet from the northern side yard as shown on the submitted drawings.

Snitzky and other council members described the case as meeting the practical-difficulty standard. Snitzky said he had reviewed the notes and the request and called the matter "about as slam dunk a variance request" he had seen in a long time. Council members noted constraints on the property: an immovable playground structure built with cinder block and brick adjacent to the proposed location, a mature tree and landscaping on the other side, and written statements from five adjoining residents supporting the placement and sight of the shed. The transcript also records that Secretary Terry Matson provided council a copy of the signed neighbor letters and a color copy of the proposed site plan.

Council discussion clarified the stakes: according to the council’s explanation on the floor, a "no" vote on the motion would overturn the ZBA ruling and permit construction, while a "yes" vote would sustain the ZBA decision. The council then took a roll-call vote. The recorded roll-call in the transcript lists these votes: Castanzo — No; Elliott — No; (an attendee listed in the transcript as) Stacy Kelly — No; Curiosis — No; Brian Kelly — No; Mororrow — No. The transcript records these votes as "No," which, per the council’s earlier floor explanation, would overturn the ZBA decision and allow the structure to be built.

The council gave the applicant an opportunity to speak; an attendee identified as Stacy Kelly confirmed she had attended prior meetings and did not wish the council to table the matter.

The council’s recorded action reverses the ZBA finding. The motion and roll-call were conducted on the council floor; the transcript identifies Councilman Snitzky advancing the floor motion and a subsequent spoken second recorded generically as "Kelly." The transcript does not uniquely specify which individual named Kelly seconded the motion.

The council did not record further conditions in the transcript. No appeals or additional procedural steps were recorded during the meeting.

The council moved on to other agenda items after the vote.